20 times celebrities accidentally became viral memes

This perfect, joyous shot is from the SAG Awards, where Meryl Streep was passionately cheering for Debbie Reynolds. It's now the internet's number one way to show enthusiastic support ... or to show you're singing along to the latest trending track. 

During the 2018 Oscars, the camera cut to Jennifer Garner politely clapping, only to catch her face instantly change as her hands stopped mid-air. The look of sudden, profound, and slightly horrified realization became the perfect meme for "Wait... did I leave the oven on?"

At the 2017 Oscars, Nicole Kidman was caught applauding, but because of the massive rings she was wearing, she clapped with just her palms. The resulting "seal clap" was so bizarrely awkward that the internet immediately turned her into a meme for any half-hearted applause.

During a 2022 Vanity Fair interview for Nope, Keke Palmer was asked to read a fan theory referencing "Scully and Mulder." She paused, looked at her co-stars in genuine confusion, and asked, "And who the hell are they?" This question immediately became the internet's favorite meme for being uncertain about someone.

When Stacey Dash made a bizarre, out-of-place cameo at the 2016 Academy Awards, the camera cut to Chrissy Teigen, whose face was contorted in a pained, secondhand-embarrassment grimace that perfectly captured how everyone at home felt.

While performing at the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, Ariana Grande was nearly taken out by model Elsa Hosk's giant pink angel wing. The resulting photo of her terrified, scrunched-up face as she ducked for cover instantly became the universal symbol for narrowly avoiding a disaster.

The simple, low-fi music video for "Hotline Bling" featured Drake dancing in a box, and the internet did the rest. The two-panel format of him "rejecting" one thing and "approving" another is one of the most dominant and versatile memes ever created.

While hosting Vogue 's 2021 Met Gala live stream, Keke Palmer was in the middle of a segment when she spotted Megan Thee Stallion arriving. Her entire professional demeanor broke as she yelled, "Oh, oh, oh, I know it ain't ... Thee Stallion!" cementing her status as the ultimate hype-woman. 

This meme was born during an episode of Kourtney and Kim Take New York , where Kim had a meltdown over her short-lived marriage to Kris Humphries. Her contorted, sobbing face, which Kourtney famously laughed at, is now the internet's go-to reaction for any overly dramatic breakdown.

When Cowboy Carter won Best Country Album at the 2024 Grammys, Beyoncé's face froze in a look of pure, unadulterated shock. The internet immediately screenshotted her stunned expression, which has become the perfect reaction GIF for any news you can't quite believe.

The photo of MJ weeping during his 2009 Basketball Hall of Fame speech was repurposed by the internet for a totally different reason. It's now the universal symbol for sports losses, bad breakups, or any time you just took a major L.

A paparazzi snapped a photo of Keanu Reeves looking completely disheartened while eating a sandwich on a park bench. The image of the famously nice guy looking so down became the go-to meme for when you're feeling just a little bit emo and eating your feelings.

This meme originated from a YouTube series about the NBA star's life, where he made a baffled face in reaction to his mom calling him a "clown" as a kid. His blank, confused stare, often surrounded by question marks, is the perfect meme for when you have no idea what's going on.

When her husband, John Legend, won a Golden Globe, the camera panned to Chrissy Teigen, who was caught in the ugliest of ugly cries. Her contorted, sobbing face became the gold standard for being overwhelmingly emotional in public.

A paparazzi photo captured Ben Affleck looking completely defeated and exhausted, smoking a cigarette with his eyes closed. This image became the official mascot for feeling tired, over it, and all of the things in one. 

In an early 2000s interview, Mariah Carey was asked about Jennifer Lopez, and her simple, shady response of "I don't know her" became an iconic piece of pop culture. It's now the ultimate, devastatingly polite way to say you don't care about someone.

During a Vanity Fair lie detector test, Keke Palmer was shown a picture of former VP Dick Cheney and had no idea who he was. Her earnest, polite, and completely genuine "I don't know who this man is... sorry to this man" response became the internet's favorite way to dismiss anyone.

During a Hot Ones interview, Pedro Pascal's face went from a fit of laughter to a look of pained, choked-up suffering as he ate a spicy wing. The quick transition perfectly captured the feeling of laughing at a joke and then immediately realizing the sad reality. 

In one of the most famous moments in TV history, Oprah gave every single person in her audience a brand-new car. Her wildly enthusiastic screaming of "You get a car! You get a car! Everybody gets a car!" is now the meme for any overly generous act. 

As Michael Scott in The Office, Steve Carell delivered this line when he saw his nemesis, Toby, return to the office. The clip of him yelling "No, God, please no! NOOO!" is one of the most-used reaction GIFs in history for getting bad news.